Apparatus and method for resuming playing of media source, and smart television

Abstract

The disclosure provides an apparatus and method for resuming playing of a media source, where if a smart televisions switches from a first media source to a second media source, then buffered video data after the position where the first media source is being played while it is being switched will be obtained and stored. Since the buffered video data can be played for a period of time longer than the playing-start time of the media source, if the smart television switches from the second media source back to the first media source, then the buffered video data will be played, and playing of the first media source will be resumed from the end position of the buffered video data in the media source.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for resuming playing of a media source, the apparatus comprising a memory configured to store computer readable programs, and at least one processor configured to execute the computer readable programs to:
 in response to a media source being switched from a first media source to a second media source, obtain a first key frame after a playing position where the first media source is being played while it is being switched, determine whether video data between the playing position and the first key frame can be played for a period of time longer than a playing-start time of the first media source, and if so, flush a buffer area, create a temporary buffer area and store the video data in the temporary buffer area as buffered video data after the playing position, otherwise, obtain a next key frame following the first key frame until video data between the playing position and the next key frame can be played for a period of time longer than the playing-start time; and 
 in response to the media source being switched from the second media source back to the first media source, flush the buffer area, put the buffered video data stored in the temporary buffer area in the buffer area, delete the temporary buffer area, play the buffered video data, and resume playing of the first media source from an end position of the buffered video data in the first media source; 
 wherein the buffered video data can be played for a period of time longer than the playing-start time of the first media source, and wherein the playing-start time is the time when the first media source is ready for being played for the first time or a preset time. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer readable programs to obtain the playing-start time and a playing bit rate corresponding to the first media source when the first media source starts being played for the first time. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer readable programs to:
 obtain a capacity of the video data; 
 determine the period of time for which the video data can be played, according to the capacity and the playing bit rate; 
 compare the period of time for which the video data can be played with the length of time corresponding to the playing-start time; and 
 if the length of time of the period of time for which the video data can be played is more than the length of time corresponding to the playing-start time, determine the period of time for which the video data can be played is longer than the playing-start time; 
 otherwise, determine the period of time for which the video data can be played is no longer than the playing-start time. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to execute the computer readable programs to:
 seek video data after a key frame corresponding to the buffered video data according to the position of the key frame in the first media source; 
 load or decode the video data after the key frame; and 
 buffer the loaded or the decoded video data. 
 
     
     
       5. A method for resuming playing of a media source, the method comprising:
 in response to a smart television being switched from a first media source to a second media source, obtaining a first key frame after a playing position where the first media source is being played while it is being switched, determining whether video data between the playing position and the first key frame can be played for a period of time longer than a playing-start time of the first media source, and if so, flushing a buffer area, creating a temporary buffer area, and storing the video data as buffered video data after the playing position, otherwise obtaining a next key frame following the first key frame until video data between the playing position and the next key frame can be played for a period of time longer than the playing-start time; and 
 in response to the smart television being switched from the second media source back to the first media source, flushing the buffer area, putting the buffered video data stored in the temporary buffer area in the buffer area, deleting the temporary buffer area, playing the buffered video data, and resume playing of the first media source from an end position of the buffered video data in the first media source; 
 wherein the buffered video data can be played for a period of time longer than the playing-start time of the first media source, and wherein the playing-start time is the time when the first media source is ready for being played for the first time or a preset time. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising obtaining the playing-start time and a playing bit rate corresponding to the first media source when the first media source starts being played for the first time before the smart television is switched from the first media source to the second media source. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein determining whether the video data between the playing position and the first key frame can be played for a period of time longer than the playing-start time comprises:
 obtaining a capacity of the video data; 
 determining the period of time for which the video data can be played, according to the capacity and the playing bit rate; 
 comparing the period of time for which the video data can be played with the length of time corresponding to the playing-start time; and 
 if the length of time of the period of time for which the video data can be played is more than the length of time corresponding to the playing-start time, determining the period of time for which the video data can be played is longer than the playing-start time; 
 otherwise, determining the period of time for which the video data can be played is no longer than the playing-start time. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein resuming playing of the first media source from the end position of the buffered video data in the first media source comprises:
 seeking video data after a key frame corresponding to the buffered video data according to the position of the key frame in the first media source; 
 loading or decoding the video data after the key frame; and 
 buffering the loaded or the decoded video data. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein storing the video data comprises storing the video data after the playing position where the first media source is being played while it is being switched. 
     
     
       10. A method for resuming playing of a media source, the method comprising:
 in response to a smart television being switched from a first media source to a second media source, obtaining buffered video data after a playing position where the first media source is being played while it is being switched, flushing a buffer area, creating a temporary buffer area, and storing the buffered video data after the playing position; and 
 in response to the smart television being switched from the second media source back to the first media source, flushing the buffer area, putting the buffered video data stored in the temporary buffer area into the buffer area, deleting the temporary buffer area, playing the buffered video data, and resume playing of the first media source from an end position of the buffered video data in the first media source.